Estimated Reading Time 9 Minutes
Hey You! Welcome back to The Vibrant Life Podcast. I’m your host, Emily Romrell, and today, we’re talking about the power of taking action in our lives. Life tends to throw challenges our way, and it’s easy to find ourselves stuck in complacency or on plateaus. In this episode, we’ll explore why it is crucial to break free from these stagnations and actively pursue growth. But before we dive into the good stuff, I want to remind y’all about two exciting resources that can complement your journey toward a more vibrant life.
If you’re looking for inspiration and introspection, check out my poetry book, Po~Em’s, available on Amazon. It’s a collection of my personal thoughts exploring the beauty and significance of life. It’s a meaningful companion for your moments of reflection. My hope is that through these poems, you will be inspired to see the world in a new light, to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, and to find solace in the universal emotions that connect us all. There is nothing quite like the power of poetry.
Additionally, for those who are ready to turn aspirations into reality, consider using The Vibrant Life Goal Planner which is also available on Amazon. This planner is designed to help you set clear intentions, track your progress, and stay motivated on your path to a more vibrant and fulfilling life. The journal is not dated so you can make the most of the pages and use any edition at any time. Who cares that you didn’t start exactly on Jan. 1st? And there is plenty of room for your own thoughts and impressions. So grab your copies of these books today. I’ll throw some links up in the show notes, or you can just search my name, Emily Romrell on Amazon and all of my stuff will pop up. Thanks in advance for your support!
I want to take a moment to express gratitude to my listeners. To those of you who have been with me from the beginning, I love you! For those of you who are here for the first time, I love you too! Your support means the world to me. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to The Vibrant Life Podcast on your favorite platform. And if you leave a quick review that would be amazing. Subscribing ensures you never miss an episode, allowing you to stay connected with our discussions on personal growth, inspiration, and living life to its fullest.
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Alrighty, let’s dive into today’s topic and explore the call to “Go Forth” in our quest for a richer, more vibrant life. Recently, I found myself highlighting all of the instances in the scriptures where it says to “Go Forth, or “they went forth” etc., and it’s a lot! I’m talking about hundreds of times. I tried to figure out an exact count and wasn’t able to come up with an answer, but it’s a staggering amount of times. People are constantly going forth into the wilderness, or going forth to preach to the people, or going forth to accomplish a task given to them by God. I’ve pondered this a lot lately, about why it’s important to take action and to go forth. And I feel impressed to share a few of my thoughts with you today.
One of my favorite hymns is Lead Kindly Light written by John Henry Newman. Let me just read the first verse to you:
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom; Lead thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on! Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene—one step enough for me.
I think in reality most of us would love to see the distant scene. We want to know that everything will work out and what the end picture looks like. But most often, we are only given one step at a time. I believe God sets things up this way so that we can achieve maximum learning and growth. Our goal is to grow up to be like our Heavenly Father, right? So we are only given the next step, or maybe the new few steps. But as we continue to “Go Forth”, we find ourselves moving confidently in the right direction. However, it’s up to us to move.
Human experience weaves a beautiful tapestry of successes and setbacks, difficulties and triumphs. We all face decisions at different points in our lives where we must choose between acting proactively and remaining stationary. What we choose always affects how our path unfolds. Spiritually speaking, the exhortation to “Go Forth” strikes a deep chord because it serves as both a profound life lesson and a divine principle.
Perhaps the core concept to “Go Forth” in Christianity is found in Jesus Christ’s teachings. The Savior exhorts believers to actively engage with the world. Consider these verses from The Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:13-16).
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This spiritual directive calls on believers to impact and illuminate the world around them rather than retreat from life’s difficulties. This is pretty amazing because as we go forth and find our way one step at a time, we are frequently lighting the way for those coming up the path behind us. We just got through the holidays and it makes me think of a string of white Christmas lights. We are all connected and light the way for each other, but the source of light, the electricity or the power comes from Jesus Christ. How beautiful is that?
Ok, Emily, you might ask at this point. That’s great but I’m in a good place. Life is relatively stable and I don’t want to shake things up. I like my life right here where I’m sitting, so thanks but no thanks.
Here’s my answer to that: You may feel happy about staying where you are, and that things are going well, but here’s the truth, you are either moving forward or sliding backward in life. We are on an incline, peeps, and there is no standing still. Or maybe think of a steep trail on a mountain representing life. You don’t have the luxury of staying put. Only the dead stand still. Growth and fulfillment lie beyond what is familiar. We must take action. We must “Go Forth”.
In addition, the exhortation to “Go Forth” is echoed throughout The Book of Mormon, inviting people to step outside of their comfort zones and venture into the unknown while trusting God. One of the most famous stories in The Book of Mormon is about Nephi who “went forth” to obtain the brass plates. It’s an excellent example of action and resolve. Nephi and his brothers make three different attempts to get the plates containing their genealogy and what we know as The Old Testament. It was critical to get the plates so they could have the gospel as they followed God’s commandments to go forth to a new promised land.
Nephi gives us perhaps the most famous scripture found in the LDS canon: (1 Nephi 3:7)
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
And I love the next verse as well:
8 And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord.
This story highlights some powerful lessons. Facing challenges and uncertainty is a given in life, but we can embrace these things with faith because Heavenly Father will never ask us to do something without providing the means for us to do it. However, we are required to “Go Forth” and do it. When we tackle these trials with faith, we are blessed in both looked-for and unexpected ways. We are given opportunities to grow and become more like the Savior and our souls are uplifted in the process. It’s hard to see this in the middle of overwhelming and painful situations, but we are asked to go through these experiences because God loves us. He wants to teach us things and give us blessings that we couldn’t receive any other way.
I want to point out that the call to “Go Forth” is a universal concept that should resonate in every walk of life. It’s powerful in spiritual contexts but it is also imperative in living day to day. Consider the following examples that might be found anywhere:
Susan is a young mother who decided to take control of her health. In response to medical problems and a sedentary lifestyle, Susan embraced the call to “Go Forth” by adding daily walks into her routine. It’s ironic that she literally chose to go forth by walking outside, but the effects of her efforts rippled into all areas of her life. This small but consistent action not only improved her physical well-being but also transformed her mindset, fostering a sense of empowerment.
Ben, a middle-aged professional, found himself stuck in a monotonous job. Ben decided to “Go Forth” by learning new skills relevant to his field, rather than giving in to routine. He attended workshops, signed up for online courses, and cultivated connections with industry experts. This proactive approach not only revitalized Ben’s career but he rediscovered his love for learning and found a fresh feeling of purpose in his daily life.
Hannah, a young adult, felt disconnected from her family. Many of us may feel this way at times. Recognizing the need for stronger relationships, Hannah decided to “Go Forth” by scheduling regular family dinners. This simple yet intentional act allowed her to create meaningful moments with her loved ones, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and joy.
And finally, Michael, an aspiring writer had a passion for storytelling but hesitated to share his work. Encouraged by the call to “Go Forth,” Michael started a blog where he could freely express his thoughts and creativity. Though initially anxious, Michael’s courage to overcome self-doubt not only improved his writing skills but also connected him with a community of like-minded people who appreciated his unique voice.
Now that we’ve seen how the call to “Go Forth” can manifest in limitless and various aspects of life, let’s discuss some practical tips on how you might get started:
- Set Clear Intentions: Define the areas of your life where you feel the need for change. Look inside yourself and follow your intuition and what you are passionate about. Be specific about your goals, whether they relate to personal growth or other areas of your life.
- Start Small, Stay Consistent: Begin with manageable steps. This is a major factor in success. Small steps take you much further than large ones that you won’t follow through with. Whether it’s committing to a short daily exercise routine, dedicating time for learning, or initiating small gestures in your relationships, consistency is key. Remember it’s okay if you mess up, just pick yourself up and keep going. Try to beat your last streak of success. I was on a softball team when I was a teenager and my coach told me that your batting swing is all about the follow-through. This is the truth about every kind of success, it’s all about the follow-through.
- Embrace Discomfort: Growth only occurs outside our comfort zones. Don’t shy away from challenges; view them as opportunities to learn and evolve. Don’t be hard on yourself if you make mistakes or if it’s painful. That’s life. But as you practice doing uncomfortable things, it will amaze you how comfortable you become with being uncomfortable. Then your growth truly skyrockets.
- Seek Guidance and Support: Connect with mentors, friends, or communities that align with your aspirations. Find your tribe, people. Their insights and encouragement are invaluable on your journey. And you too, will become an invaluable resource for them.
- Celebrate Progress, Learn from Setbacks: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. This is something that I have struggled with in the past, and I’m still working on improving. But it’s fun to celebrate your wins and it creates momentum for you to continue your winning streak. Life should be fun and we need to enjoy the journey. Don’t forget that. Also, Learn from setbacks. Treat them as opportunities to refine your approach and move forward. Remember that if you do fail, it’s just an opportunity to try again and the result will always be better than if you had never experienced that failure.
So my friends, in summary, the call to “Go Forth” is a universal principle that invites us to actively shape our lives. Just like the examples I shared of people who chose to “Go Forth” in their lives, remember that you, too, can initiate positive change. You are more capable than you know. Start small, stay consistent, and embrace the journey with open arms. Realize that you aren’t alone. God never brings us to a challenge in life that he won’t bring us through with love. But in the end, it’s up to us to move our feet and “Go Forth”.
Thank you for joining me on this episode of The Vibrant Life Podcast. Until next time, go forth and embrace the endless possibilities that await you.
